So, Changed had it's first birthday recently!

And, diamondsinmyhair made Changed a playlist which is on Spotify. I don't know how Spotify works, but the playlist is called Changed OST and it's amazing!

-HTTYD-

It was a little awkward, all things considered, but Eret wasn't going to say that. He, Valka, Hiccup and Hiccup's betrothed, Astrid, were all en route to Caldera Cay. He wondered if Valka was going to tell Mala about all the ways he'd been an ass recently, and whether or not Mala was going to just disembowel him or whether he'd get a chance to plead his case and promise never to do it again. He was expecting the former, to be honest. Mala had warned him off before there was even anything to be warned off of.

Alva, by comparison, was absolutely in her element, rolling around the sky happily and she bragged about her gnarly new scar to anyone who'd listen. At least, that was what Eret expected was going on whenever she made a happy roar and lifted her wings to display the scar fully.

"Stormcutters!"

Eret heard the call before they landed, and they'd barely dismounted before he could see Mala approaching, eyes skipping over he and Tripfire before landing on Valka and Hiccup.

"Ah. I had my suspicions... he is your son, correct?"

Of course Mala had figured that out based on meeting Hiccup, what, twice?

"Yes, he is."

Mala clapped her hands together, smiling.

"Then I am very happy you found each other! Come, we shall sit and speak."

Eret knew Mala knew Valka had a son, that Mala was one of Valka's very few confidants, but he also knew Valka hadn't really liked to talk about her past a lot. So he wasn't entirely sure how much Mala knew, but the more time he spent watching Hiccup and Valka interact, the more he felt it was so painfully obvious. And Mala was shrewd and intelligent, if she'd met them both a couple of times, it was probably no big deal for her to work it out.

Perching on benches and being handed drinks, Eret watched some of the younger Defenders coo and play with Storm and Junior, who were thrilled with the extra attention while Valka and Hiccup talked with Mala about Drago being defeated and the Hunters largely disbanded - which was the reason for their visit, to let Mala know a major threat was gone.

"We'll have to remain vigilant, of course, but with Drago Bludvist nothing but scattered ashes now - thank you Tripfire - and many of the Hunter operations destroyed, for the moment there's a lot less of them around."

Tripfire preened, proud of herself. Eret patted her side, very proud of her too.

"Who harmed the young one?"

Tripfire growled loudly, and Eret changed to reassuring pets until she relaxed a bit.

"Drago. It was what snapped Tripfire out of the Alpha's control long enough to kill him. Thankfully, Alva has healed well and is back to flying normally. She seems rather proud of her scar."

Mala nodded, reaching slowly for Alva, who lifted her wings to display the scar to the Queen of the Defenders of the Wing.

"You were very brave."

Alva gave an agreeing rumble, then licked Mala's hand and laughed her little dragon laugh. Mala smiled in return, before resuming chatting with the others. Eret spent more time keeping an eye on their youngest Stormcutters; he trusted the Defenders kids, but didn't want anyone getting hurt.

"So, you have permanently relocated to Berk now?"

"Well, we're still having to head out and check on my old nest a few times, but yes."

Valka answered, and Eret added.

"We live in an actual building and everything, not a cave cut into ice. Nobody would know we were feral vigilantes. At least until they see Valka eating."

His girlfriend shoved his arm, rolling her eyes. Hiccup actually laughed next to her. It was short, but seemed genuine. He was still constantly weighed down by loss and responsibility, but he did smile now and then. Astrid wrapped her arm around her husband-to-be, brightened by his smile. They were a sweet couple, from what he'd seen so far.

"Well, I have seen worse manners. Have you seen Snotlout Jorgenson eating?"

Eret snorted.

"Is he the one who keeps giving Valka goo-goo eyes?"

Both Valka and Hiccup cringed in sync, and gods Eret saw the resemblance in them so much then. Astrid was giggling at her betrotheds side.

"Yep, that's him! The twins manners aren't much better. Hel, half of Berk eat messier than dragons, and dragons don't even have hands!"

They couldn't stay too long, sadly, but it had been good to check in and Mala was visibly ecstatic for Valka when she heard of the pregnancy. Eret even left with all his organs intact... though it was probably because Valka didn't tell Mala about his disappearing act.

"I expect an invite."

Valka was visibly surprised, but Eret was emboldened by the smile that then crossed her face.

"So long as Hiccup doesn't mind, and you don't take offence with the island full of dragon riders."

"What am I minding? Oh. Have you two decided to tie the knot and Mala wants to come?" Valka and Mala nodded, Hiccup blinking in surprise "Oh. Right. Yeah, sure. Would it just be a couple of you? So I can ensure there's accomodations."

Eret tuned out on the political details a bit, a little giddy with the whole tie-the-knot thing. Valka had agreed to it so very readily, he couldn't help but be thrilled by it. Especially given that he'd been a bit of a terrible boyfriend. But now, she was pregnant and they were going to get married, and Valka's son was back in her life and a dragon lover just like her.

It wasn't the life he'd been envisioning when he and Valka first became a couple, but that wasn't really a bad thing. Lots of good things had come to happen, even if there were tricky bits along the way like Berk's not-too-happy attitude.

"Come on you little trouble makers, time to get going. Alva, stop showing off!"

Lolling her tongue out at Eret, Alva gave a little stomp but ruffled her wings and got ready to take off. The trip back to Berk was a little less uncomfortable than the flight over to Caldera Cay had been. Hiccup's support toward his mother getting married again was still a surprise - a very pleasant surprise, but a surprise nonetheless.

"I better get back to work. Looks like you have the kids to deal with."

Hiccup gestured to Storm and Junior, who were yawning and squirming in Valka and Eret's arms.

"Oh, yes. I think we'll have dinner here, but I will see you in the morning son?"

"Yeah, sounds good. Night mom."

"Night you two. C'mon babe."

Astrid flew off alongside her partner, leaving the family of Stormcutters, Valka and Eret on their still-empty farmland outside their home. At least the building was perfectly liveable now; they could work on the outside next.

All very domestic.

"Here we go little ones, you take your nap."

They bedded Storm and Junior down on their favourite piles of leaves and dirt, as the two had outgrown their baby beds and had to start getting used to sleeping outside eventually, spoilt rotten as they were. They were getting too big to carry, really, but that didn't stop them demanding to be babied.

"Would you give me a few minutes before you come in?"

"Uh, sure? Are you alright?"

Valka shook her head, rubbing her stomach.

"I feel a little sick, I'd rather not be witnessed."

Valka's 'morning sickness' didn't only come in the morning, but according to her it wasn't as constant and draining as it had been when she was carrying Hiccup. Still, he understood her want for privacy, even if he'd dealt with her being sick before.

"Go ahead, shout if you need me. I'll get you some water."

He kissed her forehead, and Valka smiled before hastening her steps toward their home. Eret grabbed one of their clean buckets and started clambering down the rocky slope, heading for the well at the bottom. He missed their melted ice water, but Eret had spent years at sea dealing with constant shifts. He'd manage this one.

Valka was back outside when he got back up, wiping her clammy face and breathing in fresh air. Eret scooped up some water for her so she could rinse out her mouth, rubbed her back as she cooled off outdoors.

"Do you want dinner, or shall I just make you some tea? Or tea, then dinner?"

"Tea, please. I think I'll want to eat later."

She probably didn't want to eat at all, but also knew how important it was she eat enough for the babe.

"You got it."

Her fingers caught his wrist as Eret made to walk indoors, stilling him. Eret turned back, found Valka pressing her face in to his neck and wrapping an arm around his middle.

"Thank you."

"What did I do?"

"Take care of me, even though I'm stubbornly independent and try to stop you."

Eret chuckled, hugging her gently.

"Always."

They sat outside with their tea, perched on one of the little benches brought along from the mountain and looking out over the water. That was another perk of their home-at-height - the view. Between years at sea and years in the nest, Eret felt better being able to look out at the ocean. Tripfire and Cloudjumper could be seen fishing with Alva and Vali a little ways out, other dragons scattered across the horizon.

"Do you miss your homeland?"

Valka asked, not turning her eyes from the view but her fingers slid through his. Eret squeezed her hand gently.

"A little, but I wouldn't go back. My parents are gone, and I... well, I have a new family. I have you, and them. And, gods permitting, the little one."

Wrapping her arm around her belly, Valka chewed her lip.

"I hope they make it."

"Me too. But I want to be clear that if they don't, that won't change anything for me. I won't blame you."

It was a painful prospect; Eret was, if he was honest, already quite attached to the future where he and Valka had a child she could see grow up with dragons in their life, the way she never had the chance to with Hiccup. But he knew how Valka thought, and he wanted to make his stance clear early on for if the worst happened.

Still biting her lip, Valka didn't speak, just turned and shuffled into his side, settling only when Eret wrapped his arm around her. He pressed his lips to her hair, felt her sigh softly against his shoulder.

"Might be worth asking around Berk at some point how long they think flying is safe while pregnant. They've been at this for five years now, there's probably been some trial and error."

Valka nodded tightly, wiping at damp eyes as she sat up. Eret took her hand again, Valka allowing the contact.

"Perhaps. Though I'm not sure I'm ready to talk to Berk about the baby."

"Understandable. I feel like Hiccup would have said something if it was risky now at least, rather than just fly along to Mala's with us."

"That's very true."

They ate late and retired soon after, and Eret couldn't help but admire how nice Valka looked whenever she threw on one of his tunics to wear for bed. He suspected the possibility of early morning visits from Hiccup were why she no longer slept naked, as they had done often back at the nest. Still, he could feel her bare legs tangle with his under the bedfurs as she rested her head on his chest, arm draped over his stomach.

"Eret?"

He'd thought she was asleep, had been quietly enjoying the way she felt resting on him and the sound of the Stormcutters sleeping nearby through the slightly-ajar door.

"Yeah?"

Tracing her fingers over the scar on his chest, the lines more faded than he could have hoped for even if it was likely to always be there, Valka's voice was soft and small.

"How do you feel about us tying the knot sooner rather than later?"

-HTTYD-

There's always a point in a fic where you have to balance 'not much happens' with 'I don't want to rush past certain moments'. I feel this is one of those times. But! I'm still proud Changed is over a year old, and I'm happy people are still reading it!